Venetian blind construction



Filed Oct. 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 la/ I 20 :1 i ::====v"; n I:

Nov. 18, 1952 NELSON 7 2,618,329

VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION FIG I BY flea M4 2; l wn M".

I S ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1952 H. NELSON VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1947 INVENTOR HARRY lVl-ZSON MN mm QR mm v l l u l l w flmmm m l l m. q l I \N II W x VI x M. H 3 km X x mm \3 vm ow km BY ,IZ M-el-ils ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1952 H. NELSON VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 18, 1947 INVCNTOR HARRY wizsolv BY J M -r IS ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITE S'E'AES VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION Application October 18, 1947, Serial No. 780,653

This invention relates to Venetian blinds, the invention including a new and improved form of bottom bar, tilt bar and head bar for such blinds.

Venetian blinds are provided with a bottom bar extending for the width of the blind and to which the lower ends of the ladder tapes, and usually the lift cords, are secured. This bar is thicker and heavier than the intermediate blind slats and in the past has usually been formed of wood even though the. intermediate slats are often formed of steel. .Many Venetian blinds are also provided with substantially solid wooden head bars and tilt bars, these bars often approximating in overall dimensions the bottom bar.

In the form shown of the present invention, the bottom bar, tilt bar and head bar are all formed of generally similar assemblies of rolled and stamped sheet metal parts, consisting principally of a channel-shaped body and a resilient transversely-arched sheet metal cover for the body, preferably formed of a metal intermediate blind slat. The bar body is preferably one which may serve equally well in a head bar, tilt bar or bottom bar. r

Various auxiliary fittings, such as anchors for the ends of the ladder tapes and lift cords and end fittings for the body, complete the assembly of bottom bar, head bar or tilt bar. The individual parts of the bar in each instance are held in assembled relation by the interfitting of the parts, special fastening or welding of the parts of each assembly being unnecessary. Certain of the fittings are useful in more than one of the thre bars. I

An object of the present invention is to provide a rigid, durable, easily-assembled bottom bar, tilt bar and head bar for a Venetian blind.

Another object is to provide a Venetian blind bottom bar, head bar and tilt bar that may be fabricated economically of rolled and stamped sheet metal parts. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved channel-shaped body assembly suitable for use in a Venetian blind bottom bar, head bar or tilt bar.

A still further object is to generally improve Venetian blind bottom bars, head bars and tilt bars.

and economies of construction, assembly and use will more definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the appended claims. In the claims, as well as in the description,. parts are at times identified by specific Further objects, and objects relating to details 8 Claims. (Cl. 160-173) names for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the context and with the concept of my invention a-sdistinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a Venetian blind having a bottom bar, head bar andtilt bar in accordance with the preferred form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 i an end elevation of the blind shown in Fig. 1, looking from the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the head bar and tilt bar taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of the blind, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the bottom bar taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of the bottom bar.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a lower corner of the blind, including one end of the bottom bar, the end fitting of the bar being shown 'in exploded relation to the bar.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative end fitting for the bottom bar, which may also be used as an end fitting for the tilt bar.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the pin shown in the end fitting of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the filter-engag ing end of the tilt bar, the filter-engaging end fitting being shown in exploded relation to the tilt bar.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the underside of a ladder tape and lift cord anchor for the bottom bar of a two-lift-cord blind.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the underside of a ladder tape anchor and cord pulley for incorporation in the bottom bar of a four-lift-cord Venetian blind, this fitting being also usable as a cord-pulley in the head bar of the blind. shown.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a ladder tape anchor for the tilt bar. 3 H

Referring now to the drawmgs, and particularly to'Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the Venetian blind there shown has a head bar 20 by which the, blind'is supported adjacent a wall openin by suitable installation brackets, not here shown, such as shown in my U.'. S. Patent No. 2,281,043. The tilt bar 24 is rotatably supported, in aposition parallel to and a short distance below the head bar, by a tilter mechanism 2| mounted atone posite end of the head bar.

end of the head bar 20 and a combined cord lock and tilt bar bracket 22 mounted at the op- The tilter 2| may be of the type shown in Lorentzen U. S. Patent No. 2,228,623 issued December 31, 1940. The cord lock and bracket fitting 22 may be of the type shown in Lorentzen U. S. Patent No. 2,120,284 issued June 14,1938.

A pairof ladder tapes 25, 25, secured a short distance from the ends of the tilt bar 24, support intermediate slats 26 and a bottom bar 21 of the blind. A pair of lift cords 3.1, 31 are reeved in the usual manner through the head bar and pass through slots provided in the'tilt bar and the intermediate slats, the ends of these lift cords being anchored within the bottom bar. In the form of my invention shown; the intermediate slats 26 are formed of thin, resilient, transverselyarched sheet metal strips. The general organization described in this and the preceding paragraph iswell known in the art. 7

Having described the-general. organiz'ationzof aforir'rbf Venetian blindin which my improved bottom bar, head bar and Ltilt b'ar may: be: incorporated; these barswill. now. be described fin detail. Referringv particularlyito- Figs; 3 and f7, it will be seen .that'the' bodylof theh'ead bari 20, tilt bar 24-, and-bot'tom bar LZTeach comprises-a Ierl gthef dehticallyi-shape'dfisheet metal chanfiel' s'eyered f-rpm: a: piece of such channel of indeterminate length. In 'eachins'tance; a resilient sheet metal cover is provided for the open side or thechannel in order to forma bar of closed cross section. Thebdttom' b'ariwill nrst be described in detail.

Referringlito Fig. '5, a bhannel 28 is proii ded which is -'-'of uniform cross-section'al shape throughont its length. "This channel has a flat base 29 and generally parallel sides 239, 311 which terminate in inwardly-turned up'wardly-l inclined longitudinal edges 3l,- 3l'. 'Th'e base-29- of the chahnel fiil is folded-upwardly into-a pair of tight folds 32, 32 which extend-between and-above the longitudinal-edges" 3 l 31 and are' equally-spaced irbmfthe longitudinal center line 'of the -z'zhan nel. folds 32532 form longitudinal'ribs that-serve to strengthen the channel materially against beiidir i'g and 'serve other purposes to be hereinafter-explained. v I

A metal obverse is pr'o vided for the channel '28.

' Thiscover =resilient'and-normally lightly arched transversely, being formed of the slat 'stock-nsed fol the intermediate slats of the I bl-ind. 'The enter? 35 preferably formed identical -tothe intermediate slats 26 a11dinay-be the lowermostintermediate slat of the blind. At each lift cord 3l, -31; 'the cover'35 is provided with a tran'sverse v slot ss rorpassage-of tI ieQif-t C'Oid, the slot's 36 in the cover-being identicalin shape-andpositibr ling= to the slots 'bfi' 7) or "the intermdiateslats or the blind.

The bottom bar 21 is -provided -with' necessary fittings tor cooperation -Witl'-I the 3 lift -cords" 3 1 3 I and th'e adder tapes' 25, as well as fittings fol 'clb si-fig the ends of the Channel 2 8-and retaining the cover in position. 'In the form o'finy-in vention shown in'lFigT' l, 'the li'ft 'coi'ds '31, 3T terrninate-within the bottom b'ar, this"bl ind being provided-{with two lift cords. V Anchors-3"?! are provided witmnitne .bottombar on for each ladder tape, whichserve to ngagerthe lower ends of the two branches of 'a ladden t-ape '25,. as'w'ell asre'ceiving-the' lower end of 'aglift cord" 31. This anchor. which is 'best shown: in Rigs. '7 and '11,: is

termed asasheetzmetal stamping. The central suitable diameter to receive a lift cord 31 and.

also to fit within a lift cord slot 36 of the cover 35, as will be explained hereinafter.

The central portion 40-of anchor 39 may also" be provided with two fingers 44 and 45 stamped therefrom and extending below and generally 1 parallel to the central portion 40 of the anchor.

The finger 44 projects lengthwise of the central portion-4cof the anchor and provides a projection about which a bight 48 of the lift cord 31 I may be passed. The finger 45 lies somewhat closer against the central portion 44 of the anchor 39 so that the end of the lift cord 31 may be en- I gaged beneath this finger, the latter finger frictionally engaging the cord so as to retain the bi'ght 46 about thefinger 44.

The flat central portion 4flnfutheanchor 39 is of 'suitablewidth so that-when positioned within the channel 28 it overlies :the central portion.

of the channel including the folds 32, '32 thereof (see Figs. .5 and .7). This central portion merges with symmetrically+arranged downwardlysand-outwardlysextendingflanges 41, 41. Each of. these flanges isprovided witha pair of .in-

wardlyedirected opposed aligned fingers 49 and Sillying. principally .in a plane slightly below the plane of the'flange 47. The finger 49 is much shorter. than the'finger 50. These fingers areof appropriate width tosreceive the looped-over end of a ladder tape branch, .as shown in Fig. 11, the ladder tape loop being. held closed inany suitable 'wayias by staple .s,s... The extreme corners 5 I. oftherfianges 41., '41 extend-somewhat beyondrthe'xce'ntral porti'on of the flanges to providenecessary clearance at c. for the branches of fthedadder :ta-pe "25 'when'rthe anchor 39' is positioned the channel: 28.

Thezends :of: the channel 28 are closed-by an end fitting 52, this fitting being formed bf stampedzsheet metal: and having the general configurationIshown-in Figs.l5, 6, 7-anda8. The endzfitting S-Lhasa'fiat'end wall-54 of suitable shape (to extend. completelyover the endof the channel; the side extremitiesof the wall 5'4 lying outside-of. and against the end sur'faces of the channel sides 30, 30. Acurved"inwardly-projecting fiangei 55 along. the top .:of the. end wall 54 fits 'between the longitudinal edges 3|, 31 of the channel 28 and serves to overlie the end of the cover 35 :and .retain the cover. in position.

'Thexendfitting 52iisreta'ined in position within the endbfft-he channel :28 byfrictional engagenre'n't of ian'. extended zbase'iportion thereof with thdinsidexsirrfacesbf the channel (see par ticu l'arly' Fig. .5). This :base portion =con'sists-of-two generally U-shaped flanges 56,: 56 adapte'd t'o telescope: between the: sides of -the"folds"-3 2, 32 andathesides 30,30 of the channel. The fiang-es 58.;-5trare:tapered very sligl-itly, toward the free end thereof, to aid in their insertion and'frictionalrengagement within the channel 28.

JIhe'end'fitting 52 is also provided with a-centfal portion 57 projecting from the bottom edge of .the fiatxend wall 54. and between the flanges 516;; 15.6. :Th-is-tcentral portion extends horizontally so 'as-"ton-liealong the-inside or. theubasezflfi of the channel between the folds.32;, '32 and:isr then turned upwardly into a plane parallel withi the wall--54. The wall -54rand thegupturned partof the centralportion ,5] are provided with aligned holes 59 and 69, respectively, the hole 59 within the end wall 54 being somewhat larger than the hole 69 and being surrounded by a circular outwardly-projecting bead 6|. The central portion 51 is bifurcated by a slot cut lengthwise thereof and extending through the hole 60 and downwardly for a sufficient length of the central portion so that the upturned part of this portion may be resiliently spread. The central portion 51 may be reinforced by a pair of longitudinallyextending beads 64, 64, which extend along the horizontal leg of portion 51, around the corner. and into the vertical leg.

In the assembly of the bottom bar 21 herein described, the remainder of the blind is first assembled, with the lift cords 31, 31 and the ladder tapes 25, 25 depending from the tilt bar 24. The intermediate slats 26 are positioned within the ladder tapes 25, 25 and the lift cords 31, 31 passed therethrough in the customary fashion. The lowermost slat becomes the cover 35; and after the lift cords 31, 31 have been passed through the slots 36, 36 thereof, they are passed through the anchors 39, 39. The lower ends of the lift cords are then secured to the anchors as already described. The ladder tapes 25, 25 are then engaged with the anchors 39, 39, the ends of the ladder tape branches having previously been folded back upon themselves and stapled to form terminal loops. This is done by crowding the loop onto the long finger and then smoothing it out to telescope it onto the short finger 49 also.

The assembly of cover 35 and anchors 39, 39 is then telescoped within the channel 28, it being necessary to increase slightly the transverse arching of the cover 35 to accomplish this. Such deformation may be accomplished by hand and without the use of tools. As these parts are telescoped, the lift cord slots 36, 36 of the cover 35 retain the anchors 39, 39 due to engagement of the flange 42 thereof in these slots.

When in position within the channel 28, the central portion of cover 35 will lie against the top edges of the folds 32, 32 of the channel while the lateral edges of the cover will lie tightly against the underside of the inturned longitudinal edges 3|, 3| of the channel due to the resilience of the cover. The cover 35 will be deformed to a slightly greater arching above the anchors 39, 39 due to the interposition of the anchors above the top edges of the folds 32, 32 of the channel. However, this is of such slight degree as to be scarcely apparent.

The assembly of bottom bar 21 is completed by insertion of the end fittings 52, 52. This is accomplished by entering the lower flanges 56, 56 thereof within the channel 28, the upper flange being entered above the cover 35 as the fitting is forced into position. The fitting may be telescoped into position within the channel 28 by a steady pressure or by driving it inwardly with a hammer or other tool, this fitting being forced inwardly until the end wall 54 thereof lies against the squared end of the channel. One of these end fittings may be entered into the channel 28 prior to assembly of the cover 35 therewith. When in assembled position, the edges of the slots 36, 36 formed in the cover 35 engage the outside of the upwardly-projecting collars 42, 42, thus maintaining the anchors 39, 39 in proper position longitudinally of the bottom bar, and thus maintaining the lift cords 31, 31 and ladder tapes 25, 25 in alignment.

The holes 59 and 69 provided in the end fitting 52 are for the purpose of receiving a pin (see Figs. 8 and 9) for use when hold-down brackets are used in conjunction with the bottom bar. The pin 65 comprises a short cylindrical body having a circumferential groove 66 near one end and a conical tapered portion 61 between the slot 66 and the end of the pin.

Either before or after insertion of an end fitting 52 within the ends of the channel 28, the pin 65 may be inserted by hand, tapered end first, into the holes 59 and 69. The tapered end 61 engages and slightly spreads the resilient central portion 51 of the end fitting 52 until the groove 66 reaches the wall portion about the hole, at which time the wall portion will snap into and engage within the groove 66 so as to retain the pin 65 in position. Where hold-down brackets are not to be used, the hole 59 and central portion 51 of the end fitting 52 may be omitted if desired. However, I prefer to provide the above-described construction in all end fittings to standardize parts and minimize the number of different parts required to be stocked.

The tilt bar 24 is also comprised of a metal channel and cover which preferably have the same cross-sectional shape as the channel 28 and cover 35, respectively, of the bottom bar 21. Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 10, a channel 69 is severed from channel stock of indeterminate length, the length of channel 69 being somewhat shorter than the length of the bottom bar 21 as is customary in this type of Venetian blind. In the channel 69 there are then formed transverse slots 19 extending across the base of the channel and between the folds of the channel base, these slots being properly located lengthwise of the channel to adapt them for passage of the lift cords 31, 31.

The open side of the channel 69 is provided with a cover 1| formed of the same resilient slat stock that is used for the intermediate slats 26. The cover 1| is provided with transverse slots 36 similar. to the slots 36 of the intermediate slats and of cover 35 of the bottom bar, these slots being likewise properly located longitudinally of the cover for passage of the lift cords 31, 31. Since the tilt bar 24 and channel 69 thereof are somewhat shorter than the bottom bar 21 and the intermediate slats 26, the cover 1| mustlikewise be shorter and is not interchangeable with the intermediate. slats as is the cover of the bottom bar.

Ladder tape anchors 14, 14 are provided within the tilt bar 24 for receiving the top ends of the branches of ladder tapes 25, 25. The anchors 14, 14, best shown in Fig. 13, are generally similar to the anchors 39 within the bottom bar and are assembled with the ladder tapes, the channel 69 and the cover 1| in a similar manner.

The ladder tape-engaging side portions 15, 15 of the anchors 14, 14 may be identical to those of the anchors 39, 39. A central portion 16, however, is somewhat different in that in this instance a transverse slot 11 is provided in each central portion to permit passage of the lift cords 31,31. In forming the slot 11 in each anchor 14, part of the metal displaced thereby is formed into a collar or annular flange 19 (see Fig. 4) projecting upwardly from the anchor. The'collar. 19 is generally similar to the collar about the.

hole 4| of the anchor 39 but is generally oval to conform with the slot 11. This collar is adapted to be passed through a transverse slot 36 of the cover 1|.

The tilt bar 24 is provided with end fittings chor the lift cord ends and the ladder tape in the tilt bar, two tilt bar ladder tape anchors 74 also being used in the tilt bar. In such a construction, four of the cord guides 89 (shown in Fig. 12) are used within the bottom bar, these parts also serving to anchor the bottom ends of the ladder tapes.

In order to standardize parts, the cord guides 89 may be formed with ladder tape-engaging fingers, as previously described, although the fin gers have no function when the part is being used within the head bar. The remainder of the fittings of a four-lift-cord blind may be identical with the fittings already described.

It is to be understood that the above-described construction of bottom bar, head bar and tilt bar may be used together, or independently, the other bars of the blind being conventional in construction. For instance, the metal bottom bar described may be used with a blind having an enclosed metal head containing a tilt rod.

I claim:

1. In the Venetian blind art, a bar suitable for a head bar, tilt bar or bottom bar, said bar comprising a channel-shaped sheet metal body having an open side defined by inwardly-turned longitudinal edges and a longitudinal rib projectingwithin the channel-shaped body from the base thereof and between its inwardly-turned edges, and a resilient sheet metal cover for closing the open side of said channel-shaped body, said cover being engageable under the longitudinal edges of the body and being transversely defiected by the longitudinal rib of the body upon application of the cover, thereby biasing the cover against said longitudinal edges.

2. For a Venetian blind, a bar having a channel-shaped sheet metal body comprising a base and upwardly and inwardly-turned longitudinal edges, the base of the body being folded upwardly upon itself to form a, longitudinal stiffening rib projecting between and above the level of the inwardly-turned edges of the body.

3. For a Venetian blind, a bar having a, channel-shaped sheet metal body comprising a base and upwardly and inwardly-turned longitudinal edges, the base of the body being tightly folded upwardly upon itself to form a pair of vertical longitudinal-extending stiffening ribs projecting between and above the level of the inwardlyturned edges of the body and substantially equidistant from the longitudinal center line thereof.

4. In a Venetian blind having ladder tapes, a hollow bar suitable for a tilt bar or bottom bar, said bar comprising a metal channel of uniform cross section throughout its length and having upwardly and inwardly turned longitudinal edges defining an open side, the edges being located a substantial distance above the bottom of the channel and extending in an uninterrupted straight line throughout the length of the channel, and a resilient, transversely slightly arched cover extending for the length of said channel and having longitudinal edges engaged beneath the upwardly-and-inwardly-turned edges of the channel, the ends of the branches of the ladder tapes bein entered within said bar between the upwardly-and-inWardly-turned edges of the channel and the portions of the cover lying beneath said edges, and. being anchored within the bar.

5. For a Venetian blind, a hollow metal bar suitable for a tilt bar or bottom bar, said bar comprising a channel-shaped member having inwardly-turned, longitudinal edges and a rib projecting upwardly from the base between the longitudinal edges, a resilient cover extending for the length of the channel and having a hole to permit the passage of a lift cord therethrough, and a ladder tape anchor within said bar, the anchor being resiliently engaged between the cover and the rib of the channel-shaped member and having a projecting portion lying within the hole in said cover for preventing displacement of the anchor longitudinally of the bar.

6. In the Venetian blind art, a bar suitable for a head bar, tilt bar or bottom bar, said bar comprising a, channel-shaped sheet metal body having an open side defined by inwardly-turned longitudinal edges and a pair of longitudinal ribs spaced equidistant flOm the longitudinal center line of the body and projecting within the body from the base thereof and between its inwardlyturned edges, and a resilient sheet metal cover for closing the open side of said channel-shaped body, said cover being engageable under the longitudinal edges of the body and being transversely deflected by the longitudinal ribs of the body upon application of the cover and thereby biasing the cover against said longitudinal edges.

7. In the Venetian blind art, a bar suitable for a head bar, tilt bar, or bottom bar, said bar comprising a channel-shaped sheet metal body having a base and upwardly-and-inwardly turned longitudinal edges, the base of the body being folded upwardly upon itself to form a longitudinal stiifening rib projecting between and beyond the level of the inwardly-turned edges of the body, and a, resilient sheet metal cover closing the open side of said channel-shaped body, the cover having its side edges engaged beneath the inwardly-turned longitudinal edges of the body and its underside engaged by the stiffening rib.

8. In the Venetian blind art, a bar suitable for a head bar, tilt bar, or bottom bar, said bar comprising a channel-shaped sheet metal body having a base and upwardly-and-inwardly turned longitudinal edges, the base of the body being folded upwardly upon itself to form a pair of vertical, longitudinal extending stiffening ribs projecting between and beyond the level of the inwardly-turned edges of the body and substantially equidistant from the longitudinal center line thereof, and a resilient sheet metal cover closing the open side of said channel-shaped body, the cover having its side edges engaged beneath the inwardly-turned longitudinal edges of the body and its underside engaged by the stiffening rlbs- HARRY NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 667,567 Page Feb. 5, 1901 686,052 Golding Nov. 5, 1901 1,668,953 Erickson May 8, 1928 2,100,648 Lawson Nov. 30, 1937 2,158,826 Lorentzen May 16, 1939 2,161,414 Hammer June 6, 1939 2,202,293 Lawson May 28, 1940 2,260,726 Rosenbaum Oct. 28, 1941 2,391,904 Junkunc Jan. 1, 1946 2,421,505 Hunter June 3, 1947 2,485,217 Semilof Oct. 18, 1949 2,508,742 Bell May 23, 1950 2,534,080 Stuber Dec. 12, 1950 2,573,163 Thomson Oct. 30, 1951 

